Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Tracey Louise — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:07:40 GMT

Thankyou very much,

Thinking about it i did see this but forgot it had stuff about VNA's.

I think i might keep a printout of this

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

paula morgan — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:57:16 GMT

Yes thats it x

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Claire Millington — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:58:03 GMT

Hello

Was this what you were looking for? http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=7754867.

Claire

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

paula morgan — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 21:49:41 GMT

Someone posted something on here a wee while ago from RCVS, it was a list of things qualified/student/ANAs could do, I think I have it on my computer at work but am not in for the next ten days so not a lot of good to you, maybe the OP will see this post and give you the link x

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Kim Buckley — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:55:29 GMT

[quote user="Tracey Louise Mullins RVN"]

Me too eeeeek, thats why im asking as we dont want to get in trouble with rcvs.

Kim, have u got a copy of that memo? That would be useful

[/quote]

I don't I'm afraid as I am not at that practice anymore. I will see if I can find anything else that clarifys it. It is all such a grey area!

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Tracey Louise — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:04:08 GMT

Me too eeeeek, thats why im asking as we dont want to get in trouble with rcvs.

Kim, have u got a copy of that memo? That would be useful

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

BengalcatRVN — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:34:21 GMT

I wish the royal college would tell us all what everyone can or can't do, bloody confusing!

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Kim Buckley — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:06:41 GMT

[quote user="BengalcatRVN"]

They can do anything a client can do, so they can be taught to give s/c meds and oral meds.

[/quote]

I'm sure that when the medivet thing happened we had a memo sent to my old practice about what nursing assistants can and can't do and it said that giving medication was one of the things they weren't allowed to do. I may be wrong but it was written by someone involved with the RCVS and it made of point of saying that owners were allowed to but not anyone else unless a qualified nurse or enrolled as a student.

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

BengalcatRVN — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:50:48 GMT

They can do anything a client can do, so they can be taught to give s/c meds and oral meds. No IV or IM meds, ever. They can give the animals love and attention (this is where I envy them, feel I don't spend enough time with my inp's sometimes)

And yes to the reception/general works etc.

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Kim Buckley — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:33:20 GMT

They can restrain for anything and technically monitor anaesthetics as long as the vets thinks they are competant as it is the vet who is monitoring the anaesthetic. I personally don't agree with this but it does happen in a lot of practices.

I wouldn't be happy with them giving medication unless it is oral meds and they are being supervised and shown what to give.

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Tracey Louise — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:30:44 GMT

[quote user="Rhiannon Hutton RVN"]

It depends on whether you would be putting them through any formal training. If they will be doing an ANA or VCA course, they will need to get some experience in theatre (assisting with anaesthetics), assisting with radiography and also some inpatient care (giving oral meds, doing TPR's etc). They also need to admit, discharge, assist with euthanasia's, dispense meds etc.

[/quote]

they would be on a 3 month probationary period, then hopefully if all is well move onto the ANA course.

I think its very difficult as we are so short staffed at the moment and wouldnt want to break any laws etc

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Tracey Louise — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:26:38 GMT

thankyou kim, that was the kind of thing i was thinking. do you think they are allowed to restrain animals for anaethesia induction and placing on drips or just blood samples, bandaging and examination?

Anyone else have any sugestions?

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Rhiannon Hutton — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:24:41 GMT

Re: Employing a Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Kim Buckley — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 13:40:38 GMT

I'm just going to list things which I think they can be involved with:

Animals husbandry (walking dogs, feeding, bathing, grooming, cleaning out cages etc.)
Running blood samples
Reception
Restraining animals
Washing
Cleaning and packing kits
Stock control
Cleaning

Anything that helps out the nurses and makes the practice run a bit more smoothly.